Time for mellow reflection as March enters in. Warmer days, sun and success. The snowdrops still predominate in the garden with the brighter yellows due to take over as the snowdrop season wheels its way to the day of the narcissus. Time to anticipate the change with a spot of gold. Aconites still cheer the heart when the sun shines and here the depth of yellow is contrasted with the paler Narcissus 'Mary Poppins', a long lasting and prolific flower that pushes up new blooms as if there were no tomorrow. This Mary Poppins comes all the way from the Netherlands and Fluwel.
And another of those cheerful hoop petticoats, this time from the distant island of Tasmania and the breeding talents of Rod Barwick, from Glenbrook Bulb Farm, one of his hoops named after famous fictional detectives. Mickey Moto becomes 'Mitimoto' and has just come into bloom. There's a hint of green that gives it a fresh quality.
The narcissus are beginning to appear all over the garden and should one think that I've covered too many snowdrops, you haven't seen anything yet when it comes to narcissi. Here is a close-up of a cyclamineus daffodil, comparatively new and already established itself as a staple. Narcissus 'Wisley' commemorates 100 years of the RHS, a Karel van der Veek hybrid with parentage from Narcissus 'Peeping Tom', a favourite variety. 'Wisley' has a very large flower for a cyclamineus and, as illustrated, the trumpet grows a little paler as it matures. We had the plants in a pot indoors and have transplanted them to one of the few spare spaces in the garden.
The common cowslip (Primula veris) is allowed to seed itself wheresoever it likes. It is not the most showy of flowers and I'm not sure how it arrived in our garden but it is a valued friend, in flower since January.
Of course, my blog did not get its name from thin air so here are two named snowdrops. The first is one of the Galanthus nivalis Sandersii Group, the second Galanthus plicatus 'Wendy's Gold'. The former being a nivalis is more dainty and forms a more tightly clustered clump, being far more upright. The yellow is the same however. Indeed, in the form I have the Sandersii has a deep colour.
Finally, an interesting specimen from our garden, one of a self-sown strain evincing a distinctive yellow tinge. At least I presume them self-sown. I have assiduously split them up over the years. They are just going over having been in flower for weeks. The colour has been more pronounced as they have matured into clumps. Yellow snowdrops can be less vigorous. Not so these. They have spread with liberal abandon, mixed with more green kin that actually prove a foil for their sunny disposition, spurred on by fish and bone meal applied in September. The flowers possess a distinctly yellow marking albeit with a green ovary. Not so different to Galanthus nivalis 'Blonde Inge' come to think. Considerably cheaper. As free as those cowslips. Enjoy March and should you feel the need for unusual standard size daffodils try out this new nursery in Northern Ireland - Esker Farm Daffodils.
And another of those cheerful hoop petticoats, this time from the distant island of Tasmania and the breeding talents of Rod Barwick, from Glenbrook Bulb Farm, one of his hoops named after famous fictional detectives. Mickey Moto becomes 'Mitimoto' and has just come into bloom. There's a hint of green that gives it a fresh quality.
The narcissus are beginning to appear all over the garden and should one think that I've covered too many snowdrops, you haven't seen anything yet when it comes to narcissi. Here is a close-up of a cyclamineus daffodil, comparatively new and already established itself as a staple. Narcissus 'Wisley' commemorates 100 years of the RHS, a Karel van der Veek hybrid with parentage from Narcissus 'Peeping Tom', a favourite variety. 'Wisley' has a very large flower for a cyclamineus and, as illustrated, the trumpet grows a little paler as it matures. We had the plants in a pot indoors and have transplanted them to one of the few spare spaces in the garden.
The common cowslip (Primula veris) is allowed to seed itself wheresoever it likes. It is not the most showy of flowers and I'm not sure how it arrived in our garden but it is a valued friend, in flower since January.
Of course, my blog did not get its name from thin air so here are two named snowdrops. The first is one of the Galanthus nivalis Sandersii Group, the second Galanthus plicatus 'Wendy's Gold'. The former being a nivalis is more dainty and forms a more tightly clustered clump, being far more upright. The yellow is the same however. Indeed, in the form I have the Sandersii has a deep colour.
Finally, an interesting specimen from our garden, one of a self-sown strain evincing a distinctive yellow tinge. At least I presume them self-sown. I have assiduously split them up over the years. They are just going over having been in flower for weeks. The colour has been more pronounced as they have matured into clumps. Yellow snowdrops can be less vigorous. Not so these. They have spread with liberal abandon, mixed with more green kin that actually prove a foil for their sunny disposition, spurred on by fish and bone meal applied in September. The flowers possess a distinctly yellow marking albeit with a green ovary. Not so different to Galanthus nivalis 'Blonde Inge' come to think. Considerably cheaper. As free as those cowslips. Enjoy March and should you feel the need for unusual standard size daffodils try out this new nursery in Northern Ireland - Esker Farm Daffodils.
Love the hoop petticoats. Four buds on mine this year. It would be good to see them emerge before something eats them, as happened last year :(
ReplyDeleteI tried a biological eco-friendly slug killer that is safe for birds and watched in horror as beside my most valuable snowdrop (Elizabeth Harrison) a field mouse ate the lot. Beer is the alternative. You drink it and don't care. Or something like that. Usually apart from the narcissus fly, the bulbs are safe from predation, rodents and slugs. But of course they don't know that.
ReplyDeleteWhat beauties! I do love your shot of Narcissus "Wisley"; it looks to have a lot of substance as well as size. The combination of "Mary Poppins" with the aconite is lovely. I find I have far less of an eye when combining yellows than with any other colour; now that I have a yellow/orange border I should get plenty of practise!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your touch won't desert you when it comes to utilizing that new border, Amy. "Wisley" required a little support given that it started indoors and hasn't as yet the strength to brave the winds.
ReplyDelete